Long-Term Relief from Chronic Post-traumatic Headache after Water-Only Fasting
A case study of a 52 year old woman with a chronic post-traumatic headache of 16 years. In this case, the patient underwent two medically supervised, water-only fasts (41-days and 40 days, respectively) and began an exclusively plant-foods diet, free of added sugar, oil, and salt, which resulted in long-term reduction in headache intensity, duration, and frequency.
Author(s): Alan Goldhamer, DC, Nathan Gershfeld, DC, David Goldman, MS RD, Toshia Myers, PhD
Abstract:
Chronic posttraumatic headache (CPTHA) occurs in up to 95% of patients following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and can prove highly debilitating. The mechanism of CPTHA is poorly understood, treatment protocols are not standardized, and the syndrome is difficult to manage. Here, the case is reported of a 52-year-old woman with unremitting CPTHA. The patient underwent two medically supervised, water-only fasts and began an exclusively plant-foods diet, free of added sugar, oil, and salt, which resulted in long-term reduction in headache intensity, duration, and frequency. This case suggests that water-only fasting and dietary intervention have therapeutic potential in the treatment of CPTHA and provides a basis for further studies.
Reference: http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/act.2017.29117.acg